Another business is planning to expand and improve the gateway area of Route 28 across from the airport.

The Quarterdeck Lounge, on Route 28, near the Radisson Inn and Subway shop, appeared before the town’s site plan review committee last week with a plan to demolish two of five buildings in a cluster there and construct a 1,800-foot addition to the Quarterdeck, which will transform to a full-service restaurant in the process.

Attorney Mike Ford, representing the Quarterdeck, said two retail stores selling used items, one at 235 Route 28 and the other at 251, would be razed, decreasing the amount of covered space on the site to 6,278 sq. ft.

Part of the gateway improvement would be to greatly reduce the curb cut - that area essentially has no curb and is wide open - serving the remaining buildings that include the Quarterdeck, the Subway and a small private residence.

Ford said construction would start as soon as possible, prompting the site review officials to warn that there will be changes coming to Route 28, which might include double-barreling the highway, a center island and using part of Engine House Road at the rear of the buildings as a left-hand turn onto Mary Dunn Road.

The town said the Quaterdeck should not incorporate some 38 parking spaces off Engine House Road into the parking plan as the spaces could be eliminated by the future road improvements.

There was some concern as to the possible razing of the century-old portion of the Quarterdeck, but officials were told that part of the building is incorporated into the design.

While state building code doesn't require it for that size restaurant, Ford said the owner plans to install fire sprinklers.